GAA agree deal with car manufacturers

The GAA have announced a significant sponsorship deal with Toyota Ireland aimed at helping county boards with fundraising for…

The GAA have announced a significant sponsorship deal with Toyota Ireland aimed at helping county boards with fundraising for player benefits.

Toyota Ireland will donate new cars to teams that reach national finals for the next three years.

The deal comes as welcome news throughout the country following yesterday's announcement that a number of county boards have experienced financial difficulty.

Figures released yesterday show that 19 county boards ended last year in debt while the cost of preparing intercounty teams rose by 25 per cent.

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According to Toyota, the aim of the scheme is to assist with raising funds for team holidays after "undoubtedly arduous" campaigns.

This year's football and hurling champions will receive a Toyota Corolla; the runners-up will be presented with a Toyota Yaris.

The National Football and Hurling League winners are also set to benefit by winning a Corolla each.

Similarly, the AIB Club Football & Hurling Championship winners will be presented with Corollas but that initiative will not come on board until next year.

All recipients are likely to raffle their prize to raise funds for a post season holiday. A contract clause in the deal stipulates that all monies raised from the sale of the car must go to the players' fund.

GAA president Sean McCague said the deal would provide "significant benefits for team panels." He also said that a discount on new cars being provided for All Stars was "appropriate and will prove very popular".